J.T. Miller, the New York Rangers' captain, is reportedly unwilling to waive his no-move clause, ensuring he will remain with the team through the trade deadline. This decision comes as the Rangers enter a period of retooling, as announced by General Manager Chris Drury in a letter to fans.
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reported on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading" that Miller has no intention of waiving his no-move clause. LeBrun stated, "What I was told today is that Miller has no intention of waiving his no-move clause, and the Rangers have no intention of going to him and asking to waive it". He further added, "They traded for him last year, they made him captain, and they still believe in the reasons why they made that move. Miller should not be part of whatever exodus of players leaves New York".
Miller's firm stance means that he will not be part of any potential trades as the Rangers look to acquire younger players and draft picks. Drury had met individually with players possessing no-move clauses, including Artemi Panarin, to discuss their willingness to stay in New York. While Panarin is a potential trade target, Miller's situation is different.
The Rangers acquired Miller from the Vancouver Canucks a year ago, with the cost including their 2025 first-round pick. The 32-year-old forward has 13 goals and 32 points in 42 games this season, following a strong performance upon rejoining the team last winter. Miller's contract runs through the 2029-30 season with an $8 million cap hit. The contract includes a 15-team no-trade list that comes into effect in the final three years, starting in 2027-28.
Miller's leadership was expected to guide the Rangers, especially after veterans like Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba were traded in the previous season. Despite being named captain just four months ago, the team's performance has been underwhelming, leaving them at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Some fans have expressed frustration with Miller's performance and were hoping for a trade.
Despite the team's struggles and the desire of some fans to see changes, the Rangers seem committed to Miller. The organization believes in the reasons they initially brought him back and made him captain. This suggests that Drury intends to build around Miller as a focal point of the team's core moving forward.
With Miller staying put, the Rangers will likely focus on other players to facilitate their retooling efforts. The trade deadline is approaching on March 6th, leaving Drury with limited time to make the necessary moves to reshape the roster.
